Just two members of the old board remain in post, former chairman Aziz Hazari and retired former Chief Superintendent Bob Eastwood.

A new chairman of the body to govern the school has been named as John Banks, headteacher of Wigan school Westleigh High.

The new interim executive board was approved after the council’s application to the Department for Education to replace the existing governors was approved.

It comes as head teacher Cherry Ridgway announced she would be taking personal leave shortly after the school was put in special measures by Ofsted.

Blackburn with Darwen Council said the new board consisted of ‘senior and highly experienced people from different walks of life’.

The new governing body will be tasked with delivering improvements after Ofsted placed the school in special measures.

The council had already applied for permission to establish an interim executive board before Ofsted published its findings earlier this month.

The first meeting of the new group is expected to take place next week.

Blackburn with Darwen Council’s executive member for education, Dave Harling, said: “We would like to thank the outgoing governing body for all their work and look forward to working with the new board to build on progress that has already been made.

“We are delighted to have such a strong group of leaders in place and feel their skills and experience will be invaluable in addressing issues highlighted by Ofsted, improving teaching and behaviour, and setting Pleckgate on the path to success.”

The new chairman of governors, John Banks said: “This has been an extremely challenging period for the school and our first priority will be to support students, teachers and parents so that we can start to move forward.

“The new governing body will meet for the first time next week to start to plan how we will address the areas for improvement that have been identified by Ofsted.”

In addition to Mr Banks, the new governors are Ian Kendrick , accountant John Eddleston who has been a school governor since 2012 and Michelle Foster, an experienced governor who is also a National Leader of Governance.

Comments (13)

“We are delighted to have such a strong group of leaders in place and feel their skills and experience will be invaluable in addressing issues highlighted by Ofsted, improving teaching and behaviour, and setting Pleckgate on the path to success.”

Perhaps this should be rephrased as:

"We apologise that, since September 2012, standards and the morale of both staff and pupils have been eroded at an unprecedented rate at Pleckgate High School. In addition to endangering the academic future of numerous pupils, well over two dozen staff members from all employment levels have departed from the school. If we could turn back the clock two years and do things differently, we most definitely would. However, we have managed to cobble together some random people whom we hope will restore the school to the same high standards it achieved in its previous THREE Ofsted reports, all whilst hoping this sorry mess will just dissipate into the ether."

“We are delighted to have such a strong group of leaders in place and feel their skills and experience will be invaluable in addressing issues highlighted by Ofsted, improving teaching and behaviour, and setting Pleckgate on the path to success.”
Perhaps this should be rephrased as:
"We apologise that, since September 2012, standards and the morale of both staff and pupils have been eroded at an unprecedented rate at Pleckgate High School. In addition to endangering the academic future of numerous pupils, well over two dozen staff members from all employment levels have departed from the school. If we could turn back the clock two years and do things differently, we most definitely would. However, we have managed to cobble together some random people whom we hope will restore the school to the same high standards it achieved in its previous THREE Ofsted reports, all whilst hoping this sorry mess will just dissipate into the ether."PowerCorruptionAndLies

I hope that their meeting will be sooner rather than later in the week. Too much time has been wasted already. There is much to be done.
It is sad that governors have been cast aside as an outcome of this whole sorry mess. It seems that they were made powerless in the face of the storm known as Ms Ridgway when it hit the school, though they tried their best.
Everyone knows where and when the rot set in. Lives have been shattered, jobs have been lost and the school's reputation smeared within the local community. I hope that all concerned will now get behind the new governing body and that in turn the new GB will listen to all the people whose lives have been affected by this shambles. But most of all I hope that Mr Hamilton, Mr Ford and Mr Nielson are back in school very quickly. That would be a terrific boost to the confidence of pupils, parents and staff AND THE RIGHT THING TO DO!

I hope that their meeting will be sooner rather than later in the week. Too much time has been wasted already. There is much to be done.
It is sad that governors have been cast aside as an outcome of this whole sorry mess. It seems that they were made powerless in the face of the storm known as Ms Ridgway when it hit the school, though they tried their best.
Everyone knows where and when the rot set in. Lives have been shattered, jobs have been lost and the school's reputation smeared within the local community. I hope that all concerned will now get behind the new governing body and that in turn the new GB will listen to all the people whose lives have been affected by this shambles. But most of all I hope that Mr Hamilton, Mr Ford and Mr Nielson are back in school very quickly. That would be a terrific boost to the confidence of pupils, parents and staff AND THE RIGHT THING TO DO!Artiefrancie

PowerCorruptionAndLi
es wrote:
“We are delighted to have such a strong group of leaders in place and feel their skills and experience will be invaluable in addressing issues highlighted by Ofsted, improving teaching and behaviour, and setting Pleckgate on the path to success.”

Perhaps this should be rephrased as:

&quot;We apologise that, since September 2012, standards and the morale of both staff and pupils have been eroded at an unprecedented rate at Pleckgate High School. In addition to endangering the academic future of numerous pupils, well over two dozen staff members from all employment levels have departed from the school. If we could turn back the clock two years and do things differently, we most definitely would. However, we have managed to cobble together some random people whom we hope will restore the school to the same high standards it achieved in its previous THREE Ofsted reports, all whilst hoping this sorry mess will just dissipate into the ether."

Rock on, sir! You have the happy knack of hitting the nail on the head!

[quote][p][bold]PowerCorruptionAndLi
es[/bold] wrote:
“We are delighted to have such a strong group of leaders in place and feel their skills and experience will be invaluable in addressing issues highlighted by Ofsted, improving teaching and behaviour, and setting Pleckgate on the path to success.”
Perhaps this should be rephrased as:
"We apologise that, since September 2012, standards and the morale of both staff and pupils have been eroded at an unprecedented rate at Pleckgate High School. In addition to endangering the academic future of numerous pupils, well over two dozen staff members from all employment levels have departed from the school. If we could turn back the clock two years and do things differently, we most definitely would. However, we have managed to cobble together some random people whom we hope will restore the school to the same high standards it achieved in its previous THREE Ofsted reports, all whilst hoping this sorry mess will just dissipate into the ether."[/p][/quote]Rock on, sir! You have the happy knack of hitting the nail on the head!Pendle Bill

Artiefrancie wrote:
I hope that their meeting will be sooner rather than later in the week. Too much time has been wasted already. There is much to be done.
It is sad that governors have been cast aside as an outcome of this whole sorry mess. It seems that they were made powerless in the face of the storm known as Ms Ridgway when it hit the school, though they tried their best.
Everyone knows where and when the rot set in. Lives have been shattered, jobs have been lost and the school's reputation smeared within the local community. I hope that all concerned will now get behind the new governing body and that in turn the new GB will listen to all the people whose lives have been affected by this shambles. But most of all I hope that Mr Hamilton, Mr Ford and Mr Nielson are back in school very quickly. That would be a terrific boost to the confidence of pupils, parents and staff AND THE RIGHT THING TO DO!

I don't know most the names on the new set of governors, although a couple of them seem to have a lot of experience. But one thing is clear - these new governors cannot be responsible for the previous situation at Pleckgate.

They have volunteered their services to help sort Pleckgate out. If that is what you want as well, it would be sensible to at least see if the new governing body are up to the task before having a go at them.

In your place, i would be trying to arrange a meeting with the new chair of governors to at least see if you can work together for the good of the school.

[quote][p][bold]Artiefrancie[/bold] wrote:
I hope that their meeting will be sooner rather than later in the week. Too much time has been wasted already. There is much to be done.
It is sad that governors have been cast aside as an outcome of this whole sorry mess. It seems that they were made powerless in the face of the storm known as Ms Ridgway when it hit the school, though they tried their best.
Everyone knows where and when the rot set in. Lives have been shattered, jobs have been lost and the school's reputation smeared within the local community. I hope that all concerned will now get behind the new governing body and that in turn the new GB will listen to all the people whose lives have been affected by this shambles. But most of all I hope that Mr Hamilton, Mr Ford and Mr Nielson are back in school very quickly. That would be a terrific boost to the confidence of pupils, parents and staff AND THE RIGHT THING TO DO![/p][/quote]I don't know most the names on the new set of governors, although a couple of them seem to have a lot of experience. But one thing is clear - these new governors cannot be responsible for the previous situation at Pleckgate.
They have volunteered their services to help sort Pleckgate out. If that is what you want as well, it would be sensible to at least see if the new governing body are up to the task before having a go at them.
In your place, i would be trying to arrange a meeting with the new chair of governors to at least see if you can work together for the good of the school.Excluded again

Banks and Kenrick not local, nor is the old Chief of Police. Accountant has been a gov for 12 years. Where? Michelle Foster, is an "experienced governor who is also a National Leader of Governance". But where and what is a National Leader of Goverance?

No long term plan. Beginning of term report-no effort at all, poor results, must try better?

Are these new governers volunteers or paid?
Banks and Kenrick not local, nor is the old Chief of Police. Accountant has been a gov for 12 years. Where? Michelle Foster, is an "experienced governor who is also a National Leader of Governance". But where and what is a National Leader of Goverance?
Has the headmistress gone? For "good"? Pay off of? £1/4m? More?
No apology or explanation from Town Hall, educationalist Harling, aspiring MP Kate Holleren, rent a quote "teaching union" Boss Jones.
No long term plan. Beginning of term report-no effort at all, poor results, must try better?Sue Lee

Banks and Kenrick not local, nor is the old Chief of Police. Accountant has been a gov for 12 years. Where? Michelle Foster, is an &quot;experienced governor who is also a National Leader of Governance". But where and what is a National Leader of Goverance?

No long term plan. Beginning of term report-no effort at all, poor results, must try better?

Sue, email me on j.harris4@ntlworld.c
om

[quote][p][bold]Sue Lee[/bold] wrote:
Are these new governers volunteers or paid?
Banks and Kenrick not local, nor is the old Chief of Police. Accountant has been a gov for 12 years. Where? Michelle Foster, is an "experienced governor who is also a National Leader of Governance". But where and what is a National Leader of Goverance?
Has the headmistress gone? For "good"? Pay off of? £1/4m? More?
No apology or explanation from Town Hall, educationalist Harling, aspiring MP Kate Holleren, rent a quote "teaching union" Boss Jones.
No long term plan. Beginning of term report-no effort at all, poor results, must try better?[/p][/quote]Sue, email me on j.harris4@ntlworld.c
omPendle Bill

To be honest, what I'm reading here, flies in the face of what I'm reading elsewhere..
Head Teacher is on leave..
Governors relieved of their positions..
With more gruntling than you'd find on a pig farm between former teachers and some parents..

Is there a direct correlation between the arrival of the new Head and the schools decline in performance?
Is there any truth in what people are reporting as 'bullying' in the workplace?
Whilst I accept that 'new brooms' have a different way of doing things, I cannot help but suspect that there is something seriously wrong here..
The school seems to have gone into a rapid decline in standards in a short space of time..Why?
More commentary here..
http://tinyurl.com/p
9f9ojn

To be honest, what I'm reading here, flies in the face of what I'm reading elsewhere..
Head Teacher is on leave..
Governors relieved of their positions..
With more gruntling than you'd find on a pig farm between former teachers and some parents..
Is there a direct correlation between the arrival of the new Head and the schools decline in performance?
Is there any truth in what people are reporting as 'bullying' in the workplace?
Whilst I accept that 'new brooms' have a different way of doing things, I cannot help but suspect that there is something seriously wrong here..
The school seems to have gone into a rapid decline in standards in a short space of time..Why?
More commentary here..
http://tinyurl.com/p
9f9ojnwoolywords

Banks and Kenrick not local, nor is the old Chief of Police. Accountant has been a gov for 12 years. Where? Michelle Foster, is an &quot;experienced governor who is also a National Leader of Governance". But where and what is a National Leader of Goverance?

No long term plan. Beginning of term report-no effort at all, poor results, must try better?

According to the government paying governors is illegal, except for out of pocket expenses.

'The Department considers that governors should not be out of pocket and should be able to claim allowances for legitimate expenses incurred in carrying out their duties. The allowances paid should relate to actual costs incurred, apart from mileage costs where any payment should not exceed authorised Inland Revenue mileage allowances. However, attendance allowance and payments for loss of earnings may not be paid.'

So these new governors will be volunteers.

[quote][p][bold]Sue Lee[/bold] wrote:
Are these new governers volunteers or paid?
Banks and Kenrick not local, nor is the old Chief of Police. Accountant has been a gov for 12 years. Where? Michelle Foster, is an "experienced governor who is also a National Leader of Governance". But where and what is a National Leader of Goverance?
Has the headmistress gone? For "good"? Pay off of? £1/4m? More?
No apology or explanation from Town Hall, educationalist Harling, aspiring MP Kate Holleren, rent a quote "teaching union" Boss Jones.
No long term plan. Beginning of term report-no effort at all, poor results, must try better?[/p][/quote]According to the government paying governors is illegal, except for out of pocket expenses.
'The Department considers that governors should not be out of pocket and should be able to claim allowances for legitimate expenses incurred in carrying out their duties. The allowances paid should relate to actual costs incurred, apart from mileage costs where any payment should not exceed authorised Inland Revenue mileage allowances. However, attendance allowance and payments for loss of earnings may not be paid.'
So these new governors will be volunteers.Excluded again

I read this article with some trepidation. We are to welcome a group of ‘senior and highly experienced people from different walks of life’ who are tasked with resolving the problems associated with teaching and behaviour. Why do I feel that, yet again, the target has been shifted in order to accommodate the interests of a self-serving minority? It doesn’t make an awful lot of sense and I’ll try to tell you why.
The behaviour of the pupils at Pleckgate is really quite good and they are a credit to their parents. Many teachers have remained at this school for years because this has never been an issue and, frankly, classes are often a joy to teach. Doesn’t require attention.
The teachers here give their best. Maybe we have some who need some help. I don’t know. What we don’t need is constant criticism of our teaching styles, many of which have proved so successful in the past.
Sir Michael Wilshaw, Ofsted supremo, recently (25/01/14) sent a message to all inspectors detailing his dissatisfaction with some of their comments. They were rating lessons as inadequate because teachers weren’t including every last detail of the latest educational fads. I quote below:

‘It is unrealistic, too, for inspectors to necessarily expect that all work in all lessons is always matched to the specific needs of each individual. Do not expect to see ‘independent learning’ in all lessons and do not make the assumption that this is always necessary or desirable. On occasions, too, pupils are rightly passive rather than active recipients of learning. Do not criticise ‘passivity’ as a matter of course and certainly not unless it is evidently stopping pupils from learning new knowledge or gaining skills and understanding.'

Nevertheless, I still see inspection reports, occasionally from HMI, which ignore this and earlier guidance and, irritatingly, give the impression that we are still telling teachers how to teach. Let me give you a few examples from recent reports I have just read:

• 'Teaching will improve if more time is given to independent learning'
• 'Insufficient time was given to collaborative learning'
• 'Students are not given sufficient opportunity to support their classmates in their learning'
• 'Pupils are not sufficiently engaged in their own learning'
• 'Teaching requires improvement because pupils do not get enough opportunities to work alone or in groups'
• 'Weak teaching is characterised by teachers talking too much.'

Teachers in this school were rated low because of some of the bullet points above. Some teachers have been forced to leave because they didn’t match these ridiculous criteria. Our newly imported Senior Leadership Team fully endorse these criteria and are willing to criticise staff who don’t match up.
We have a new, imposed behavioural management system which is not needed. It serves only for the self- aggrandisement of its author who, incidentally, has been here for only a few weeks. We have Professional Development time devoted to ensuring that every lesson is a clone of the previous one and that teacher individuality is erased. We have laughable aides memoires taped to our desks, reminding us to include all the things which Sir Michael deems unnecessary. I ask all parents out there who attended this school, and those who didn’t, if this is what you want for your kids.

I know that I’m repeating myself but will they just, please, leave us alone. We have a very good acting Head in Mark Bradshaw. Let him do what is necessary. I have confidence that our present year 11 will deliver some good results in summer. We just need some time to regroup.

I read this article with some trepidation. We are to welcome a group of ‘senior and highly experienced people from different walks of life’ who are tasked with resolving the problems associated with teaching and behaviour. Why do I feel that, yet again, the target has been shifted in order to accommodate the interests of a self-serving minority? It doesn’t make an awful lot of sense and I’ll try to tell you why.
The behaviour of the pupils at Pleckgate is really quite good and they are a credit to their parents. Many teachers have remained at this school for years because this has never been an issue and, frankly, classes are often a joy to teach. Doesn’t require attention.
The teachers here give their best. Maybe we have some who need some help. I don’t know. What we don’t need is constant criticism of our teaching styles, many of which have proved so successful in the past.
Sir Michael Wilshaw, Ofsted supremo, recently (25/01/14) sent a message to all inspectors detailing his dissatisfaction with some of their comments. They were rating lessons as inadequate because teachers weren’t including every last detail of the latest educational fads. I quote below:
‘It is unrealistic, too, for inspectors to necessarily expect that all work in all lessons is always matched to the specific needs of each individual. Do not expect to see ‘independent learning’ in all lessons and do not make the assumption that this is always necessary or desirable. On occasions, too, pupils are rightly passive rather than active recipients of learning. Do not criticise ‘passivity’ as a matter of course and certainly not unless it is evidently stopping pupils from learning new knowledge or gaining skills and understanding.'
Nevertheless, I still see inspection reports, occasionally from HMI, which ignore this and earlier guidance and, irritatingly, give the impression that we are still telling teachers how to teach. Let me give you a few examples from recent reports I have just read:
• 'Teaching will improve if more time is given to independent learning'
• 'Insufficient time was given to collaborative learning'
• 'Students are not given sufficient opportunity to support their classmates in their learning'
• 'Pupils are not sufficiently engaged in their own learning'
• 'Teaching requires improvement because pupils do not get enough opportunities to work alone or in groups'
• 'Weak teaching is characterised by teachers talking too much.'
Teachers in this school were rated low because of some of the bullet points above. Some teachers have been forced to leave because they didn’t match these ridiculous criteria. Our newly imported Senior Leadership Team fully endorse these criteria and are willing to criticise staff who don’t match up.
We have a new, imposed behavioural management system which is not needed. It serves only for the self- aggrandisement of its author who, incidentally, has been here for only a few weeks. We have Professional Development time devoted to ensuring that every lesson is a clone of the previous one and that teacher individuality is erased. We have laughable aides memoires taped to our desks, reminding us to include all the things which Sir Michael deems unnecessary. I ask all parents out there who attended this school, and those who didn’t, if this is what you want for your kids.
I know that I’m repeating myself but will they just, please, leave us alone. We have a very good acting Head in Mark Bradshaw. Let him do what is necessary. I have confidence that our present year 11 will deliver some good results in summer. We just need some time to regroup.BillyPilgrim

I am a great believer in the maxim that, 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it'. However, there seems to be this faction, within modern education, that believes that the old methods of teaching, are a bit out of date. For some strange reason, they have deluded themselves into thinking that things can be learned almost by rote nowadays, forgetting that, that which is taught, needs to be backed up with it's practical application. How many were taught Trigonometry but never used it since then nor even knew how to?
We had that awful period where Initial Teaching Alphabet was taught and created an whole raft of children, that were virtually unable to read the back of a cereal box.
Now, we are in the midst of another crisis, where children are merely 'crammed' to pass exams, to maintain a schools position on a league table of results. Results, that are deliberately skewed in order to only allow a certain percentile to achieve top results, as it's thought that there cannot be so many children that are as equally adept, so let's move the goalposts.
All wonderfully bright children, 'on paper', but utterly confounded by a problem, if the batteries are flat, in whatever device that they rely upon. Even able to trot out formulae, perfectly, but wholly unable to transpose them, to resolve a problem. Believe me, they could learn to calculate a surface area in their head but be utterly incapable of estimating how much wallpaper is required for their bedrooms!
We need to get back to the basics and stop trying to create little cliques or empires of educators, that are not giving children the right skills for life.
The wheel was invented millennia ago and doesn't need reinventing!

I am a great believer in the maxim that, 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it'. However, there seems to be this faction, within modern education, that believes that the old methods of teaching, are a bit out of date. For some strange reason, they have deluded themselves into thinking that things can be learned almost by rote nowadays, forgetting that, that which is taught, needs to be backed up with it's practical application. How many were taught Trigonometry but never used it since then nor even knew how to?
We had that awful period where Initial Teaching Alphabet was taught and created an whole raft of children, that were virtually unable to read the back of a cereal box.
Now, we are in the midst of another crisis, where children are merely 'crammed' to pass exams, to maintain a schools position on a league table of results. Results, that are deliberately skewed in order to only allow a certain percentile to achieve top results, as it's thought that there cannot be so many children that are as equally adept, so let's move the goalposts.
All wonderfully bright children, 'on paper', but utterly confounded by a problem, if the batteries are flat, in whatever device that they rely upon. Even able to trot out formulae, perfectly, but wholly unable to transpose them, to resolve a problem. Believe me, they could learn to calculate a surface area in their head but be utterly incapable of estimating how much wallpaper is required for their bedrooms!
We need to get back to the basics and stop trying to create little cliques or empires of educators, that are not giving children the right skills for life.
The wheel was invented millennia ago and doesn't need reinventing!woolywords

woolywords wrote:
I am a great believer in the maxim that, 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it'. However, there seems to be this faction, within modern education, that believes that the old methods of teaching, are a bit out of date. For some strange reason, they have deluded themselves into thinking that things can be learned almost by rote nowadays, forgetting that, that which is taught, needs to be backed up with it's practical application. How many were taught Trigonometry but never used it since then nor even knew how to? We had that awful period where Initial Teaching Alphabet was taught and created an whole raft of children, that were virtually unable to read the back of a cereal box. Now, we are in the midst of another crisis, where children are merely 'crammed' to pass exams, to maintain a schools position on a league table of results. Results, that are deliberately skewed in order to only allow a certain percentile to achieve top results, as it's thought that there cannot be so many children that are as equally adept, so let's move the goalposts. All wonderfully bright children, 'on paper', but utterly confounded by a problem, if the batteries are flat, in whatever device that they rely upon. Even able to trot out formulae, perfectly, but wholly unable to transpose them, to resolve a problem. Believe me, they could learn to calculate a surface area in their head but be utterly incapable of estimating how much wallpaper is required for their bedrooms! We need to get back to the basics and stop trying to create little cliques or empires of educators, that are not giving children the right skills for life. The wheel was invented millennia ago and doesn't need reinventing!

the world has rolled on since you were at school.....i dont think children of today require the kind of teaching dished out to you in iron age!, how many times have you used intergration, differentiation perhaps whilst wall papering your room and trying to calculate the missing angle and length of that piece! i suggest you move on too or become extinct!

[quote][p][bold]woolywords[/bold] wrote:
I am a great believer in the maxim that, 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it'. However, there seems to be this faction, within modern education, that believes that the old methods of teaching, are a bit out of date. For some strange reason, they have deluded themselves into thinking that things can be learned almost by rote nowadays, forgetting that, that which is taught, needs to be backed up with it's practical application. How many were taught Trigonometry but never used it since then nor even knew how to? We had that awful period where Initial Teaching Alphabet was taught and created an whole raft of children, that were virtually unable to read the back of a cereal box. Now, we are in the midst of another crisis, where children are merely 'crammed' to pass exams, to maintain a schools position on a league table of results. Results, that are deliberately skewed in order to only allow a certain percentile to achieve top results, as it's thought that there cannot be so many children that are as equally adept, so let's move the goalposts. All wonderfully bright children, 'on paper', but utterly confounded by a problem, if the batteries are flat, in whatever device that they rely upon. Even able to trot out formulae, perfectly, but wholly unable to transpose them, to resolve a problem. Believe me, they could learn to calculate a surface area in their head but be utterly incapable of estimating how much wallpaper is required for their bedrooms! We need to get back to the basics and stop trying to create little cliques or empires of educators, that are not giving children the right skills for life. The wheel was invented millennia ago and doesn't need reinventing![/p][/quote]the world has rolled on since you were at school.....i dont think children of today require the kind of teaching dished out to you in iron age!, how many times have you used intergration, differentiation perhaps whilst wall papering your room and trying to calculate the missing angle and length of that piece! i suggest you move on too or become extinct!BlackburnEyes